Exploring the great potential that hydrogen possesses as a fuel in the transportation industry, highlighting advantages and recent innovations.
Here’s an article from Addcomposites that reports the potential of Hydrogen in transportation.
The key takeaways from the article are as follows
- Hydrogen conquers long-distance routes, rapid refuelling
- Liquid fuels made from hydrogen power clean skies and seas.
- Replaces dirty hydrogen in refining, creating bio & synthetic fuels.
- Solar & wind power creating clean hydrogen fuel.
In recent years, several key innovations have been developed to improve the use of hydrogen as a fuel for long-distance transportation:
Advancements in Hydrogen Storage
One of the major challenges in using hydrogen for transportation is its storage. Researchers have made significant progress in developing new storage technologies:
- Metal hydrides and chemical hydrogen storage materials are being explored as alternatives to compressed hydrogen storage.
- Composite materials are now being used to make hydrogen storage tanks that are lighter, stronger, and capable of storing hydrogen at higher pressures (up to 700 bar), making them more suitable for vehicle applications.
Advances in Fuel Cell Technology
Fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity, and recent innovations have improved their efficiency and performance:
- Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs): These high-temperature fuel cells are being developed to operate more efficiently with hydrogen, offering higher power outputs and lower emissions compared to traditional fuel cells.
- Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs): Innovations in PEMFCs have led to better durability and performance, making them more viable for automotive applications. Improvements in catalyst materials have reduced costs and enhanced efficiency.
Improved Hydrogen Production Techniques
- Biological Hydrogen Production: Utilizing algae and bacteria for hydrogen production presents an environmentally friendly alternative, leveraging waste products and sunlight to generate hydrogen sustainably.
Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:
Green Hydrogen in Transportation, Challenges: McKinsey & Company’s blog highlights the necessity of hydrogen in transportation, citing costliness and the need for extreme cooling as key challenges.